Permutation lock, for example, for suitcases, briefcases or the like

ABSTRACT

A permutation lock for suitcases, briefcases or the like, which comprises a housing having a cover and a bottom. Permutation discs and locking discs are provided, which permutation discs are capable of being locked with the locking discs for variation of the opening permutating in different angular positions. The locking discs have a first opening. A displaceable bolt slide includes locking projections and are cooperative with a hasp. The locking tongues enter the first opening and the cover has a second opening. The permutation discs include an upper part and a lower annular collar. The permutation discs project through the second opening with their upper part and support themselves with their lower annular collar on the inner face of the cover and have a central third opening, receiving a shaft of the locking disc resiliently against the bottom. Recesses are disposed on the under side of the lower annular collar concentrically about the third central opening, and projections are provided on the end face of the locking discs, which projections enter the recesses.

a United States Patent 091 Lindner 541 PERMUTATION LOCK, FOR

EXAMPLE, FOR SUITCASES, BRIEFCASES OR THE LIKE [75] Inventor:

Gustav Lindner, Iserlohn, Germany Assignee:

Germany Jan. 8, 1971 104,983

Filed:

Appl. No.:

US. Cl. ..70/74, 70/312, 70/318 Field of Search........70/5, 67,-74, 287, 288, 312, 70/316, 318, 322

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 8/1886 Knowles ..70/3l6 X 12/1931 Clementz ..70/3l2 9/1962 Badoud ..70/74 Firrna Heinrich Hulter Jr., lserlohn,

Int. Cl. ..'..'....E05b 37/12, EOSb 65/50- Jan. 2, 1973 [57] 7 ABSTRACT A permutation lock for suitcases, briefcases or the like, which comprises a housing having a cover and a bottom. Permutation discs and locking discs are provided, which permutation discs are capable of being locked with the locking discs for variation of the opening permutating in different angular positions. The locking discs have a first opening. A displaceable bolt slide includes locking projections and are cooperative with a hasp. The locking tongues enter the first opening and the cover has a second opening. The permutation discs include an upper part and a lower annular collar. The permutation discs project through the second opening with their upper part and support themselves with their lower annular collar on the inner face of the cover and have a central third opening, receiving a shaft of the locking disc resiliently against the bottom. Recesses are disposed on the under side of the lower annular collar concentrically about the third central opening, and projections are provided on the end face of the locking discs, which projections enter the recesses.

7 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures PATENTEDJAN'Z I975 sum 2 or a INVENTOR.

PERMUTATION LOCK, FOR EXAMPLE, FOR SUITCASES, BRIEFCASES OR THE LIKE The present invention relates to a permutation lock, by example, for a suitcase, briefcase or the like, in general, and to such permutation lock, in which the permutation discs for the variation of the opening-permutation can be locked by means of locking discs in different angular positions, which rotatable locking discs have a radial slot, into which locking projections enter, in case of a correctly set permutation, which locking projections of a bolt slide are displaceable with an external handle and cooperate with a hasp member, in particular.

It is known to cause the variation of the permutation combination required for the opening in such manner, that in case the locking projections of the lock slide inserted into a radial slots of the locking discs with the decoupling of a driver device is varied in its angular position and rotated, respectively. In this connection, it is also known already to form a lock coupling between the permutation discs and the locking disc, like a catch. In such a design, the permutation disc is equipped with rest recesses and the locking disc with corresponding form connected projections and which are yieldingly supported by means of a spring. This causes an appreciable reduction in size, even if the permutation discs are arranged perpendicularly to the cover of the lock housing, which again leads difficulties of use.

It is one object of the present invention to provide a permutation lock, which has an extremely flat structural shape and a very simple structural arrangement, as well as one which makes possible a variation of the permutation combination without a prior decoupling operation, and yet safely prevents an automatic adjustment.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a permutation lock, wherein the approximately hat-shape formed permutation of discs projecting with their upper part through an opening of the lock cover, support themselves with their annular collars on the inner face of the lock cover and have a central opening for insertion of the shaft of the locking disc which is resiliently disposed relative to the locking bottom, by concentrically to the central opening and preferable symmetrical in arrangement on the bottom face-of the collar for the entrance of projections on the end face of the locking disc.

Due to this formation, there occurs a reduction of the structural thickness of the lock housing by the hatshaped formation and packaging of the discs to a minimum value. The interlocking of the discs assures furthermore a reliable operation and disturbance-free rest adjustment. Also a high safety results against forced variation of the angular position.

In order to prevent jamming during variation of the angular position, in accordance with the present invention, one can advantageously form the locking disc with two diametrically oppositely disposed edge projections.

Furthermore, the use of advantageous helical pres-. sure springs can be made possible, in accordance with the present invention, where the locking disc has a central hat-shaped recess for reception of a pressure spring.

A stabile mounting is brought about such, that in the hat-shaped opening of the locking disc, a stud surrounded by a pressure spring is provided, which stud is mounted in the lock bottom.

One can, for disturbance-free cooperation of the locking disc and of the bolt slide in accordance with the present invention, penetrate the locking disc through window-shaped openings of the bolt slide.

In order to make more difficult manipulations in the angular position of the permutation disc, it is furthermore, in accordance with the present invention, there is provided projectingly a central conical point set on the end face of the locking disc shaft.

As long as, in accordance with the present invention, the openings of the lock cover form radially directed windows, and the permutation symbols are arranged on the upper ring face of the number disc collar, advantageously, an orientation most favorable as to use is made possible.

With these and other objects in view which will become apparent in the following detailed description, the present invention will be clearly understood in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front elevation of the permutation lock in substantially natural size in addition to a complementary hasp in open position;

FIG. 2 is a front elevation of the like as shown in FIG. 1 after removal of the cover;

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal section in the plane of the bolt locked position;

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal section as shown in FIG. 3, however, in the open position of the lock slide;

FIG. 5 is a section along the lines V-V of FIG. 1 in an enlarged scale;

FIG. 6 is a front elevation and rear elevation, respectively, of a section shown in FIG. 8 in coupled position.

FIG. 7 is frontand rear elevation of the numberdisc;

FIG. 8 is at enlarged scale a partial section of the lockingand number-disc in locking position; and

FIG. 9 is the same section as in FIG. 8, yet in unlocked coupling position.

Referring now to the drawings, the permutation lock comprises a flat rectangular lock cover 1' which has angular bent edges 1'. A bottom member 2 serves to close the housing space towards the bottom of the lock housing or receptacle.

As a complementary closing part there is provided a hasp member 3, the eye 4 of which enters through the insert opening 5 into the range of a lock-bolt 6, which sits on a bolt slide 8 the latter being displaceably mounted and operable by an external handle 7.

A closing member formed by the locking disc 9 and a permutation disc 10 is preferably provided in duplicate, which locking disc has an opening, for instance, a radial slotv l 1, into which a locking projection 12 can enter, in case of a correctly set permutation combination, which locking projection 12 sits on window-shaped openings 13 of the bolt slide 8.

The discs 9 and 10 of the closing member can be locked in at different angular positions. For this purpose, the permutation discs 10 projecting with their upper part 14 through an opening 15 of the lock cover 1', are supported with their lower collar 16 on the inner face of the lock cover 1'. Furthermore, the permutation discs 10 are formed with central recess 17 for the entrance of the shaft 18 of the locking disc 9 which is resiliently disposed reluctively the lock bottom 2, and concentrically to which central recess 17 are preferably arranged, in a symmetrical arrangement, locking recesses 19 formed on the bottom side the collar 16 for the entrance of projections 20 on corresponding end face of the locking disc 9.

The locking discs have suitably two diametrically oppositely disposed projections 20.

Each locking disc 9 has a pot-shaped recess 21 for reception of a helical spring 22, each of which spring 22 causes the projections 20 to rest in the recesses 19.

Furthermore, in the recess 21, a stud 23 is provided, on which the helical spring 22 is guided. The peripheral edge 25 of the upper part 14 of the permutation disc is advantageously equipped with a knurled configuration.

The openings of the lock cover 1' form radially directed apertures 26 and, preferably, numerical symbols are provided on the permutation disc 10 on the upper ring face of the collar 16, which appear visibly in the apertures. This number correctly set in the angle to the opening 11, is the permutation number for the opening.

The operation of the described number lock is as follows:

Starting with FIG. 3, in which is shown the locking position effected by support of the locking projections 12 on the peripheral edge of the locking disc 9, in which the lock bolt 6 enters into the eye 4 of the member 3 and retains the latter, the permutation number must be set by rotation at the upper parts 14 of the permutation discs 10 in the apertures 26.

By this arrangement, the locking discs 9 are brought into the angular position shown in FIG. 4 due to their locking. Upon operation of the slide 8 by means of the knob 7, the slide can be moved backwardly, whereby the locking projections 12 can be inserted into the slots 11.

Upon release of the pulling knob 7, the slide 8 falls back resiliently into the holding position. Thereafter, the operation can be locked by any selected rotation of the permutation discs 10.

For the changing of the permutation combination rendering possible the opening of the case, the closing system is brought into the opening position as shown in FIG. 4 and the bolt slide 8 is retained. By a corresponding angular displacement of the permutation disc 10, a new opening permutation can be set, whereby the lock of the permutation disc 10 with the locking disc 9 is overcome. This takes place such, that by the rotary force, the projections are pushed out from the recesses 19, whereby the spring 22 yields. The permutation disc 10 remains thereby unyielding against the cover 1' sup ported, and the locking disc 9 can perform a corresponding release stroke, which is possible without difficulty, since the shaft 18 and the stud 23 provides a good support for the locking disc 9.

In order to make well sensible the rest positions, the permutation disc 10 has at its edge knurles 10', in which enter the ends of a two armed spring 27, which arrests the particular correct angular position.

In central opening 17 of the upper part 14 is provided a central conical point 28 sitting on the end face 18' ofihe shaft 18 ofthe lo king disc.

Whie I have disclose one embodiment of the present invention, it is to be understood that this embodiment is given by example only and not in a limiting sense.

I claim: 1. A permutation lock for suitcases, briefcases or the like, comprising a housing having a cover and a bottom, permutation discs and locking discs, said permutation discs being capable of being locked with said locking discs for variation of opening permutations in different angular positions, said locking discs having a first opening, a displaceable bolt slide including locking projections and cooperative with a hasp member, said locking projections entering said first openings, said cover having second openings, said permutation discs formed of substantially hatshape and including an upper part and a lower annular collar, said permutation discs projecting through said second openings with their upper part and supporting themselves with their lower annular collar on the inner face of said cover and having a central third opening receiving a shaft of said locking disc resiliently disposed relative to said bottom, rest recesses disposed on the under side of said lower annular collar concentrically about said third central opening, and rest projections on the end face of said locking discs,

said projections entering said rest recesses. 2. The permutation lock, as set forth in claim I, wherein said locking disc has two of said rest projections disposed diametrically opposite each other. 3. The permutation lock, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said locking disc has a central pot-shaped recess for the reception of a pressure spring. 4. The permutation lock, as set forth in claim 3, which includes a stud surrounded by said pressure spring and disposed in said pot-shaped recess. 5. The permutation lock, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said locking discs project through window-shaped openings of said bolt slide. 6. The permutation lock, as set forth in claim 1, wherein a central conical point projects in the central opening of said permutation disc and engages the end face of the shaft of said locking disc. 7. The permutation lock, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the second .openings of said cover form radially directed apertures, and symbols are disposed on the upper annular face of said collar of said number discs. 

1. A permutation lock for suitcases, briefcases or the like, comprising a housing having a cover and a bottom, permutation discs and locking discs, said permutation discs being capable of being locked with said locking discs for variation of opening permutations in different angular positions, said locking discs having a first opening, a displaceable bolt slide including locking projections and cooperative with a hasp member, said locking projections entering said first openings, Said cover having second openings, said permutation discs formed of substantially hat-shape and including an upper part and a lower annular collar, said permutation discs projecting through said second openings with their upper part and supporting themselves with their lower annular collar on the inner face of said cover and having a central third opening receiving a shaft of said locking disc resiliently disposed relative to said bottom, rest recesses disposed on the under side of said lower annular collar concentrically about said third central opening, and rest projections on the end face of said locking discs, said projections entering said rest recesses.
 2. The permutation lock, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said locking disc has two of said rest projections disposed diametrically opposite each other.
 3. The permutation lock, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said locking disc has a central pot-shaped recess for the reception of a pressure spring.
 4. The permutation lock, as set forth in claim 3, which includes a stud surrounded by said pressure spring and disposed in said pot-shaped recess.
 5. The permutation lock, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said locking discs project through window-shaped openings of said bolt slide.
 6. The permutation lock, as set forth in claim 1, wherein a central conical point projects in the central opening of said permutation disc and engages the end face of the shaft of said locking disc.
 7. The permutation lock, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the second openings of said cover form radially directed apertures, and symbols are disposed on the upper annular face of said collar of said number discs. 